Shock hospital report

2005-10-27 22:37

Carina van Wyk

Johannesburg - Not one of the four academic hospitals in Gauteng meets with the minimum accreditation standards for state hospitals.

Dr Clarence Mini, chairperson of the independent accreditation committee, which started evaluating hospitals under orders from the provincial government last year, after a meeting of the Gauteng health department on the East Rand said the finding was a major concern.

"Tomorrow's doctors are being trained here."

These hospitals included Pretoria Academic Hospital, Johannesburg General Hospital, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital and Dr George Mukhari Hospital.

At the same meeting at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, it was revealed that only 11 of the 28 state hospitals in Gauteng were accredited.

Problems being resolved

Mini admitted that media reports about grim conditions at Natalspruit Hospital in Thokoza on the East Rand, were true.

Mini at the time said he would investigate, telling other members of the committee: "I would love to prove these guys (the media) wrong."

He has since changed his tune: "It's sad, but true. The reporters were right. That headline was spot on: Hospital from hell."

The hospital was apparently dirty, linen or towels were in short supply and the instruments in the emergency unit were not ready for use.

Five months later the hospital received accreditation. "They turned the situation around," Mini said.

The evaluation process consists of 35 categories, including the safety of patients, the quality of food and the availability of hospital equipment.

To obtain accreditation, a hospital must achieve at least 70% in each category, which remains valid for only two years.

Bhungani Mzolo, spokesperson for the Gauteng health department, said the executive chiefs of the academic hospitals were co-operating with hospital services (a departmental directorate) to resolve problems identified during the evaluation process.

- Beeld